Tampa Airport to Host Aviation Networking Conference

TAMPA - More than 300 airport and airline representatives will touch-down in Tampa March 4-6 when Tampa International Airport hosts Network USA 2012. The annual conference is the premier commercial aviation route-planning event in North America.

“We’re thrilled to be hosting this event, which brings together people in our industry and gives us the opportunity to show off all that Tampa International Airport and the Bay area has to offer,” said Chris Minner, TPA’s vice president of advertising and marketing. 

The hallmark of the conference is one-on-one meetings akin to “speed dating,” where airport executives meet with airline leaders in 30-minute sessions and make their pitches for expanding air service in their markets. 

Barry Biffle, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Spirit Airlines, will deliver a keynote address Monday morning. That will be followed by a panel discussion on airline route planning featuring Biffle, as well as John Kirby, Director of International Planning at Southwest Airlines, and Adam Green, Director of Network Planning at Virgin America. 

Conference attendees will get a taste of the Tampa Bay area’s cultural and natural amenities as well, with a kayaking excursion, sunset welcome reception overlooking the water at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, and dinner at the Tampa Museum of Art.

-TPA-